Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OC's
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Fili awoke from the sensation that he was falling. He had experienced this feeling many times before, and he always found himself on solid ground. However, this time Fili could not feel the ground beneath him, at all. His eyes flew open, at least he thought they did, all he saw was darkness. He could feel his limbs flailing around him. He fell for what seemed to be an eternity before landing with a hard thump on top of Kili. Then before he could even think, Balin fell on him. Balin's damp beard whacked Fili across the face, and if he wasn't already wide awake, that sure did the trick. It took Fili's eyes a moment before they fully adjusted to the dull light that lit the earthy walls. They were on a crudely made, but sturdy ledge, that was almost like half a basket. There was a walkway made from planks of wood that were now rotting, and didn't look stable under any circumstances. There were silhouettes on the walls that were getting darker and more defined. It was then Fili realized that the silhouettes were coming towards them. Around the corner cam an entire group of about 10-20 goblins. All wearing nothing but a loin cloth, some were tall and looked discombobulated ,others were very small with other deformities. The goblins all had boils all over their bodies, and they were very sweaty.
The goblins began to pull the dwarfs off of each other, pushing them to their friends so they could be quickly frisked. One particularly ugly, fat goblin took hold of Fili and shoved him forward. He stumbled and hit right in to Leila. He grabbed her and pulled her to him, to keep her from falling on the ground. However, before he could let her go, Bombur was pushed into both of them, and Fili braced himself so he wouldn't fall on her, but they were now considerably more squished with a lot less room to maneuver out of their current position. Fili, trying to lighten the mood and tension somewhat, said, " Well we must stop meeting like this." He turned toward Leila with a grin, that immediately melted away when he actually looked at her. She was trembling. Fili didn't know how he didn't feel it before, but her whole body was shaking.
"Are you alright?" he asked concerned. All Leila did was nod her head. Fili knew she was lying, she was shaking, her eyes were the biggest he had ever seen them , and they were full of terror. She wriggled free of his grip, and pulled the hood of her cloak over her head, right before a goblin grabbed her and shoved her to move along with the other dwarfs. The goblins pushed Fili along as well, he tried to move to get closer to Leila. He wanted to protect her. He knew that she could take care of herself, he had seen the evidence time and again, but those times he had never seen the fear in Leila's eyes. It wasn't that she wasn't sometimes scared to go into battle, especially when they were out numbered, but he had seen determination more than anything else. This time when he looked into her eyes he saw pure unadulterated fear. If only he could get closer, maybe he could help ease her or tell her it would be alright.
The dwarfs struggled against the pushing of the goblins, but there wasn't very much damage they could do, and constantly being jostled. They crossed what seemed to be a hundred bridges, each one more decrepit than the last. They tried to keep their steps light, but they were dwarfs after all, and there was only so much lightness one could put in their step. Fili was surprised that the bridges didn't just collapse under all their weight; for if he was honest there was none in the company, that he knew of, who would pass up a good hearty meal; he would like to say that all their bulk was pure brawn; however, no one would believe that, once they saw Bombur, who could pack away about three times as much as the rest of them.
After what seemed to be hour of treading on molding wood as if it were eggshells, the company tread on their final bridge that lead to a clearing like area, right in front of the biggest, ugliest, foulest goblin Fili had ever seen. There were thousands of goblins all around them, cheering for their latest successful trap.
As they were all being shuffled into the clearing, the goblin, much to the horror of the company, he started singing.
Clap, snap, the black crack
Grip, grab, pinch, and nab
Batter and beat
Make 'em stammer and squeak!
Pound pound, far underground
Down, down, down in Goblin Town
With a swish and smack
And a whip and a crack
Everybody talks when they're on my rack
Pound pound, far underground
Down, down, down in Goblin Town
Hammer and tongs, get out your knockers and gongs
You won't last long on the end of my prongs
Clash, crash, crush and smish
Bang, break, shiver and shake
You can yammer and yelp
But there ain't no help
Pound pound, far underground
Down, down, down in Goblin Town
The King finished holding out the last note, and twirling so his subjects could revel in him. Fili touched his ears to make certain they weren't bleeding. He turned to Kili, and whispered, " It should be a crime to sound so awful." Kili showed a small grin. Cracking jokes was the only way he and Kili could suppress their fear. This wasn't the most scared Fili had ever felt, but he was frightened. Before he could allow his thoughts to wander, he heard the the great, and ugly, goblin saying, " Grinnah," motioning toward the goblin who had lead them to the throne cavern, " Who would be so bold as to come armed into my kingdom? Spies? Thieves? Assassins?" The goblins voice was shrill on this last word. In any other situation Fili would've been amused that someone would assume a rough and tumble looking group of dwarves would look like assassins. But Fili was not amused, he wasn't even flattered, he was worried. The group had formed a kind of circle surrounding Thorin and Leila. If these foul creatures knew that they had the King of the Mountain in their midst they almost certainly would not leave with their lives. And Leila was a Ranger there was no telling how many of their kin she had killed, they would likely covet her head on a spike.
"Dwarves, your malevolence." the goblin, Grinnah, seemed to be saying.
" Dwarves?" the big goblin replied.
"We found them on the Front Porch." Grinnah answered.
" Well, don't just stand there! Search them! Every crack, every crevice."
The goblins began to grab at the dwarves taking their weapons, and jostling them about. Fili pushed one away that seemed to be trying to reach down his shirt, he knew he had weapons there but there were some places that were just off limits. The goblins grabbed everything they could, what they could break they did, what weapons they found were thrown in a pile, which Fili was sure half of them were his.
" It is my belief your great protuberance that they are in league with elves." Grinnah said smugly as he held up a candelabra from Rivendell. Everyone in the company slowly turned to Nori, he was standing there red faced.
" Just a couple of keepsakes." he said innocently.
"What are you doing in these parts?" the goblin king asked. Thorin went to step forward, but Oin put his hand on his shoulder and said, " Don't worry lads, I'll handle this." and he stepped forward.
"No tricks," the goblin said, " I want the truth. Warts and all."
"You're going to have to speak up." Oin said "You're boys flattened my trumpet."
"I'll flatten more than your trumpet." The goblin began to get off his throne, and Fili felt his senses become sharp. His protective instincts were on overdrive, but just as he was preparing to spring into action Bofur stepped forward.
" If you want more information I'm the one you should speak to he said."
The goblin made a gesture beckoning him to speak, " We were on the road," Bofur started, "Well it's not so much a road as a path, well it's not even that come to think of it, it's more like a track. Anyway the point is, we were on this road, like a path, like a track and then we weren't. Which is a problem because we were supposed to be in Dunland last Tuesday."
"Visiting distant relations." Dori chimed in.
The dwarfs all nodded in agreement, and made noises of affirmation.
"Some in breds on me mothers side." Bofur continued.
"SHUT UP!" the goblin screeched, the dwarfs were stunned into silence," If they will not talk we'll make them squawk. Bring out the Mangler, bring out the Bone Breaker. Start with the youngest."
"WAIT!" Thorin's voice rand loud and true. Fili understood why his uncle was coming forward but was also silently cursing him because they had been trying not to make his presence known, yet here he was announcing it to all these goblins, Thorin pushed his way to the front of the group.
"Well, well, well," the goblin King said almost amused, " Look who it is. Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror, King under the Mountain. Oh but I'm forgetting you don't have a mountain, and you're not a king, which makes you nobody really." Fili's blood was boiling, there were many who had laughed and scorned Thorin over the years; but this filth saying such things was worse, he was crowing over Thorin like his mountain was something special. If what Fili had heard about Erebor was true, the muck of the stables was nicer than this dump. The Goblin went on, "I know someone who would pay a pretty price for your head. Just a ahead, nothing attached. Perhaps you know of whom I speak, a pale orc astride a white warg?" Fili heard Leila gasp, then she quickly muffled her sound.
"Azog the Defiler was defeated long ago." Fili could hear in Thorin's voice that he was off his guard; in all honesty Fili was too, they all knew the story of how Azog had died. "He was slain in battle long ago." Thorin said.
"So you think his defiling days are done do you?" the goblin king sneered.
The goblins once again began to attack the dwarves pull their weapons from them. Fili maneuvered himself, so he ended up by Leila; even though the cavern was lit by a light that cast a yellowish hew over everything he could see how pale she was. He grasped her hand and squeezed he didn't know what doing that would do , but he hoped it would bring her comfort. He kept ahold of her hand while their weapons were thrown in a pile. One goblin picked up Thorin's sword, and screamed.
"It is the Goblin Cleaver!" the Great Goblin, screeched. The goblins began to whip the company mercilessly, Fili tried to shield Leila as much as he could and get the brunt of the whip, but he wasn't very successful.
Two more goblins let out ear piercing screeches. The whole room went quiet, they had cast down Leila's swords. The great goblin looked terrified, " It is the Avenger of crime, and Champion of Shadows. The swords that have many times over killed our kind. And there is only one person who could have these swords." His eyes scanned their group until they fell on Leila. He motioned to Grinnah and two other goblins; the two fought off Fili and held him back as Grinnah grabbed Leila and thrust her before the Great goblin, and pulled off her hood. Her long brown braid fell over her shoulder as she knelt before the great goblin. Fili could see her trembling in the dim light, and he struggled against the goblins, but they held him firm.
" It would seem that we have another honored guest in our midst," The goblin announced to the room, " We have the ranger Reaper, and the King under the Mountain. Azog would pay handsomely for both of their heads." The room erupted into cheers and loud banging. The Goblin raised his hands to silence them, then he reached down and picked Leila up by her hair, and she flailed about trying to wriggle free of his grip, and she kept making muffled noised in her throat, as if she wanted to scream but didn't want to give him the satisfaction. " I think we should start with her first. Bring the bone breaker, all our orc friend needs in good condition is her head." Once again cheering began.
" Send word to the pale orc," the goblin instructed a much smaller just as grotesque looking goblin, " Tell him I have found his prize, and a bonus to boot."
Then Leila spoke, "I would kill you again and again, I regret nothing; in fact I take great pride in having killed so many of you. Middle Earth is better off having less varmints that are no better than the mud on my boot."
"We'll see how you feel after having your bones crushed very slowly." The goblin dropped her and she hit the wood with a dangerous thud, the goblins began strapping her down, to a vicious looking contraption, with many rocks that were big enough to break a bone, but not big enough to crush it in one go. " And remember," the Great goblin sneered, " we want to hear you scream."
" I will not give you that satisfaction." The cold determination in Leila's eyes was terrifying, and in that moment Fili knew that no matter what they did to her, she would never give into them. He kept struggling against the goblins that held him, as they strapped Leila to a contraption with large stones that looked like they'd roll over you and hurt, but not do much damage, but Fili suspected that with the right amount of pressure they could crush bones very quickly and easily. The dwarfs all watched in horror as they began to turn the cranks on either side of the stones, and they began to toward Leila's hands. Fili's eyes met hers and he saw that as terrified as she was, there was a calm peacefulness that resided there as well. When he saw it he knew, Leila wasn't scared to die, she was scared of something but not of death.
Just then a blinding lash of light filled the cavern, and all the goblins fell back in pain, for the sunlight was their biggest enemy. As their eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness then darkness, Fili saw a tall figure walking towards them. Gandalf.
"Talk up arms," he said to them," and fight. FIGHT!" it was in that moment that the company of dwarfs sprang into action. They pushed the goblins from them and grabbed their weapons. Fili quickly sheathed all of his swords and knives, and he gabbed Leila's swords. He gathered up Nori, and they rushed over to the bone crusher where Leila was still bound, and fought off the goblins that were surrounding her. Fili tried to untie her but the damned creatures were surprisingly good at tying knots, and Nori couldn't hold the hoard at bay for much longer.
"Leave me." Leila said to him.
"No."
"Do it." he met her gaze and there was fear there, Fili wondered for just a moment if she was scared for him. He turned back to the task at hand, and finally just took his knife and cut the leather straps that bound her hands and feet. She fell into him and he held her, and supported her as they tried to make their get away. But it was harder as one of his hands was supporting Leila, the other was holding her swords, so Nori was still the only one fighting the group of goblins that separated them from the comany.
"I'm fine," he heard Leila say, and he looked down at her, " Give me my swords." he saw an almost smirk spark on her face, handed her her swords. She grasped their hilts, and began slaying goblin after goblin, Fili followed suit with his swords. In no time they had rejoined the company and were killing as many goblins as they could. Some how Leila had sprinted past all of them on the tiny wood paths, and was now at the forefront of the group fighting the on coming goblins. They were running across a bridge and the goblins were still coming out of nowhere. Another wave of goblins were coming for Leila, and she stood her ground and closed her eyes. When they were nearly upon her she sprung into action. She moved quickly and gracefully, dodging and stabbing. They were no match for her in a matter of minutes she had wiped out the entire group that had come upon her. They continued on through the maze of decaying wood, and stone walls, killing any goblins they came in contact with. There was a low rumble, then the great goblin popped up through the floor boards right in front of the company. Gandalf threw himself in front of Leila and the rest to confront the Goblin King.
"So you thought you could escape me?" the goblin said smugly, taking a swipe at Gandalf. " What are you going to do now wizard?" Without a word, Gandalf trust his staff upwards landing it straight into the goblins eye, making the goblin reel back in pain. Then he sliced through the belly of the beast bringing him to his knees, he howled in pain, then Gandalf slit his throat. The heavy set goblin crashed down onto the bridge dead before them; and his weight caused the structural integrity of the bridge to fail, and it gave way. They were sliding down a massive sloping hill-like mound while the other goblins, now master less, chased them seeking vengeance. They eventually fell down a dark cavern and came to an abrupt stop. They almost heaved a sigh of relief, when Bofur said, " Well that coulda been worse." Then the corpse of the goblin king fell directly on them. Fili who was nearer to the bottom of the pile let out a loud moan, and would have cursed Bofur if he could get enough air to do so.
Gandalf helped out Thorin and Dwalin, and together the three of them pulled the rest of the company out of the mess, of broken rotting wood and rope cords. Then they heard the battle cry, the goblins were catching up to them.
"There's too many." Dwalin declared, " we can't fight them." Fili saw Leila assume a fighting stance as if she planned on fighting the whole hoard by herself.
" There is only one thing that can save us," Gandalf called to them, "Daylight." and with he began to lead them through a winding path. Fili grabbed Leila's arm as he ran past her, he didn't know if she was going to follow on her own or not, but he didn't want to wait to find out. She had sheathed her swords so he figured there was a good chance that she had planned to follow them, but he knew that he couldn't risk losing her, he felt he was too connected to her at this point, he couldn't let her go. AT some point in their chaos of running through the maze of goblin pathways, their grip changed from him holding her arm, to her holding his hand, and running behind him.
Finally they saw faint glimmers of sunlight coming from the left of them, they ran toward it and were deposited onto the other side of the misty mountains, into a forest. They still ran, for although Goblins hated sunlight it looked as if the sun was setting and the last place any of them wanted to be was near a goblin mountain. When they finally slowed to catch their breath, and regain their wits, Fili realized Leila's hand was still in his, he looked at her face and she turned to look at him, he noticed that her eyes were full of excitement, the fear was still there, but adrenaline had made her eyes huge, and her instincts kick in.
Suddenly Gandalf asked, " Where's Bilbo?" They company looked around and for the first time they noticed that their little burglar was no where to be seen.
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Well this is definitely the longest chapter I've ever written, I really hope you guys are liking where this is going. I decided to write a full chapter from Fili's point of view because why not. I only hope I did it justice. In case many of you failed to notice, I have kind of given up on a regular posting schedule. I work on these chapters when inspiration strikes, so it is very sporadic, and I have no patience for stockpiling because when I finish a chapter I immediately want to share it. So here we have the chapter I've been meaning to finish for like what a year now? Who nows at this point. I will try to be more consistent but no promises.
As always feel free to leave reviews/comments. I do so love to read what you guys have to say. Thank you!
